Fixture-support.



A. J. TIZLEY.

FIXTURE SUPPORT. E APPLICATION mED APH. 19. 1917.

1,267,934. Patented May 28,1918.

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a A TTORNEYS A. J. TIZLEY.

FIXTURE SUPPORT.

APPLICAUON meu A1 11.19.1911.

1 ,267,934. Patented May 28,1918.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ARTHUR J'. TIZLEY, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOB. TO EDWARD F. CALDWELL COMPANY, 0F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF -NEW YORK.

FIXTURE-SUPPORT.

Specification of Lettera Patent.

Patented May 28, 1918.

Application led April 19, 1917. Serial No. 163,317.

To all 'whom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, ARTHUR J. TI'zLEY, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and residing in the city of New York, borough of Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Fixture- Supports, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to fixture supports and particularly to supports of the type adapted to carry electric lighting fixtures, the object of my invention being to provide a silnple and relatively inexpensive device which affords a rigid and secure attachment by which lighting fixtures or the like may be mounted upon a wall without marring the latter by use of hooks, screws, nails or other disfiguring support.

Referring to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 is a vertical section throu h an outlet box in which my supporting evice is installed, and showing a lighting fixture supported thereon;

Fig. 2 is a cross section on the line 2 2, Fic'. 1;

Fig. 3 is a rspective of the base shield of a lighting xture showing the supporting bar therefor;

Fig. 4 is a pers ective of an operating wrench for use witli the present device;

Figs. 5 and 6 are elevations of the cooperating elements of the device in difieren-t positions;

Fig. 7 is a partial section through the stem of the supporting device showing the carrier drawn out into position to receive the lighting fixture;

Fi 8 is a vertical section through a modi ed arrangement with fixture attached;

Fig. 9 is a rear elevation of the fixture showmg its supporting bar;

10 is a rear elevation of the supportin evice;

ig. 11 is a vertical section through the latter; .n

Fig. 12 is a detached perspective of certain of its parts;

Fig. 13 is a plan of the latter in a modified construction; and

.Fig. 14 is a side elevation of the same.

The present invention relates to devices for su portin lighting fixtures and particulari;1 to a evice which may be installed in an ordinary electric outlet box through which the lead wires emerge to the fitting, or upon a wall plate, and by means of which the llghtin fixture may be mounted in position at t 1e wire outlet far more securely and readily than has hitherto been the practice and without marrin in any Way the general appearance of t e fitting, or the wall upon which it is mounted.

Referring to the vaccompanying drawings, I have shown in Figs. 1 and 2 an out` let box 20 of common t e into which the wires leading' to the 11g ting fixture are conducted in any suitable way, as through a conduit 21. To the base of the outlet box I secure by screws 22 a fixture support comprising an insulating base 23 with threaded nipple 24. An internally threaded-pct 25, screwed on to the nipple 24, carries a locking plate 26 having a hollow threaded stem 27 which is screwed into the post 25 and maintains a normally fixed position with relation to the latter. Locking plate 26 is provided with a series of apertures 28 (see Figs. 5 and 6) into which take the studs 29 and 30 on the inner face of a key 31.

/From the latter, a headed bolt extends into the stem 27 and has coiled thereon a sprin 33 interposed between the plate 26 and t 1e head 34 of the bolt 32 and tending constantly to draw the keyV plate 31 down against the locking plate 26. The longitudinal margins of the key plate 31 are under-cut asiat 35 and a stop in 36, which may be in one with the stu 30, projects from its outer face.

To coperate with this supporting device, the lighting fixture 37 has on the interior of its base shield 38, a bar 39 having an under-cut groove or key way 40 adapted to effect a sliding en agement with the key plate 31 and have also locking pins or studs 41 projecting from the ribs 42 which form the key way 40. These studs are so spaced that they take into the holes 28 in the lock-v ing plate 26, when -the parts are in fully assembled position.

To effect an engagement between the bar 39 on the fixture 37, and the key plate 31, the latter is drawn away from the locking plate 26 against the action of spring 33, by any suitable means, for instance, by a specially formed wrench 43, (Fi 4), and turned slightly so as to permit t e studs 29 and 30 to rest upon the outer face of the locking plate 26 thus spacing the late 31 therefrom. (See Figs. 6 and 7 The fixture liar il? is tit-i;- .iaiid into engagement with the key plate 31. until it is' halted against the stop pin 36. 'lilie latter is so positioned with relation to trie studs 4l in bar 39 that when the fixture 3i' is turned back into position the studs 41 on the bar 39 come into register with the holes 28 in the key plate 26 and the spring 33 thereupon draws the xture 37 and the key plate 31 down into engagement with the plate thereby locking the partssecurely in position.

ln the modiied construction shown in Figs. 8, etc., the supporting device is carried by a plate 44 which may be either a cover plate for an outlet box or simply a wall plate. 'This plate 444 is provided with a web 45 separating a pair of Wire holes 46 and carries a tapped hub 47 Within which is screwed an insulating bushing 48 tapped to receive stem 27 of the locking plate 26. rl`he locking plate 26 andkey plate 31/ are similar in construction to that above described. A collar 49 is provided on the plate 44 surrounding the wire holes 46, to fit into a recess in the wall. t

rlhe main function of the studs 29--30 on the key plate 3l is to hold the latter spaced from the locking plate 26 during the engagement ofthe fixture with the key plate, and while these studs do reinforce the engagement between the parts in locked rela-` tion, their function for this purpose is really unnecessary in vievv of the sufficiency of the studs 4l on the fixture to accomplish the same end.'

ln the modification Figs. 13 and i4 I have i omitted the studs on the key plate and substituted as spacing members a pair of cams 50-51 on opposite sides of the locking plate 26. On rotation of the key plate 3l, the latter now runs up the cams and rest-s thereon spaced from the locking plate, so that the fixture may be applied thereto With equal facility as if the studs 29-30 Were employed. Since it is not necessary to lift these studs out of the holes 28 in the locking plate, the tool 43 may be dispensed With, and the end of the key plate extended as at 52 to afford a handle which gives suilicient leverage to swing the key plate up the cam inclines against the action of the spring 33.

The Wiring of the fixture may be accomplished in various ways. The usual practice would be to attach the Wires emerging from the fixture to lead Wires at the outlet box after the key plate 35 has been drawn away from the locking plate 26 and prior to the mounting of the fixture upon the key plate 31 so that the least possible bunching of the Wires in the outlet box or at the plate 44 results when the fixture is assembled and drawn down into locked position by a spring 33.

i-aetgese The base 23 Yfor the post (liigs'. l and 2) may be of any suitable construction. preferably however an insulating joint of' wellknown type which need not be here dcscribed or shown in detail. The support afforded by the engagement of the fixture cross bar 39, key plate 3l and locking plate 2G is self-contained and free from any clamping action the security of which is dependent upon the drawing of the base shield 38 againstthe surface of the wall. The engagement between the fixture bar 39 and the locking plate 26 is direct, through the entry of pins 4l into holes 28, and it is impossible for the lixture to turn with relation to the locking plate. In any case it is coinpletely insulated either through the base 23 or through the bushing 48 so that there is no danger of the fixture pipe or piece coming into contact with electric conductors which may charge the outlet box or plate 44.

Various modifications of construction and arrangement will readily occur to those skilled in the art Which do not depart from what l claim as my invention. l claim l. A supporting device comprising an apertured locking plate, a key plate, and spring means tending to hold said key plate normally against the locking plate, in combination with a fixture having means to engage said key plate and having stud means to engage the apertured locking plate to hold the fixture against displacement with relation to the locking plate in the normal position of the parts.

2. A supporting device comprising an apertuied locking plate, a key plate longitudinally and rotatably displaceable with relation thereto, spring means for maintaining said partsnormally together, in combination with a xture having means 'for engaging said key plate When the latter is spaced from the locking plate and additional means for engaging the locking plate to hold said fixture and locking plate against relative displacement when tlie normal relation of the key and locking plates is restablished, for the purpose specified.

3. A supporting device comprising a stationary locking plate and a fixture support ing plate movable with relation thereto, in combination With a fixture engageable upon said supporting plate when the latter is moved in relation to the locking plate and means on said fixture engaging the locking plate and serving to prevent the relative rotary movement of said parts when the supporting plate is returned to its normal position with relation to the locking plate.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specication.

ARTHUR J. TIZLEY. 

